Dead gauges 2007 Air Nautique 236 TE

[toastie22]

Hoping someone can clarify for me whether I have dead gauges or a dead gateway, or whether the 2007 236 doesn't have the pitot gateway issue, (or perhaps doesn't have a gateway), and if some gauges are dead or flickering, maybe I just need to replace the individual gauges?
Not all gauges are dead. I haven't checked to see if the digital readout within the tach gauge has data, which I think I've read here on PN, indicates that it's not a gateway issue?, but a gauge issue?
Dead ones are Temp / Fuel / Oil pressure (that one not working makes me really nervous), and Tach.
Speedo is fine, Perfect Pass is fine, and volt gauge is fine.
Also, if it's just gauges that I need to replace, are there any posts I can be pointed to that I haven't found by searching PN, or tips on how to disassemble the dash to get to the gauges? Previous owner supplied what I hope to be working replacements for a number of these.
Thanks.

[Jonny Quest]

I believe that the gateway was used between 2003 through 2009. Your symptoms likely point to a failing Faria Gateway and/or Faria Gateway gauges. Even if your boat does not have the pitot input at the Gateway, the Gateway can still fail. It's doubtful you have pitot tubes, so a Gateway failure is less likely -- most likely the culprit is failing gauges.

The Gateway receives signals from the engine and then sends the signals up to the dash. However, the Gateway sends a specific type of signal to Faria gauges. Unfortunately, one can't simply change out the Faria Gateway gauge for a universal analog gauge. So, if the Gateway is failing, you have to repair / replace the Gateway and use only Faria Gateway compatible gauges. That can be challenging.

There is a simple, but expensive, solution. Nautique / Correct Craft came to realize that the gateway is doomed. As such, they developed a "kit" to completely bypass the gateway and to replace the gateway-specific gauges with standard analog gauges. Last year, the cost was +/- $1,300 US. Now that price has escalated to over $1,700 US. Shipping to Kiwi-land with any associated fees, may make that amount even worse. If you use the "Promo Code" of PND you will get a 10% discount.

I have a 2003 Ski Nautique and performed this upgrade 1 year ago. I'm very happy with the results.

LINK

JQ

[MN Ryan]

An '07 won't have pitot tubes (at least mine doesn't), so while a gateway failure could occur, it is less likely. I'm sure TechBeer will have some solid insight on this.

[TechBeer]

toastie22 your boat does not have the pitot tubes so water ingress into the gateway will not be an issue. From your description I'm 99% sure that you simply have a few gauges that have gone bad. To my knowledge new gauges are not available anymore and if they were they would have the same design flaw as the old ones. I did a video explaining how to fix the small gauges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PR-77jDDNo&t=17s The large ones are similar but the capacitor values are different. There are some other differences as well, including replacing the stepper motor. But both are easily repairable (permanently).

Unless you have skills soldering SMT devices you might consider letting me do it. I've done about 100 to date with 100% success. PM me and I can give you details.

[TechBeer]

Oh, I missed the part about New Zealand I'm still happy to help but of course shipping will be more. The parts are cheap, you just need to find an electrical technician with good soldering skills (surface mount components). Again, PM me and I can provide more details.

[toastie22]

I believe that the gateway was used between 2003 through 2009. Your symptoms likely point to a failing Faria Gateway and/or Faria Gateway gauges. Even if your boat does not have the pitot input at the Gateway, the Gateway can still fail. It's doubtful you have pitot tubes, so a Gateway failure is less likely -- most likely the culprit is failing gauges.

The Gateway receives signals from the engine and then sends the signals up to the dash. However, the Gateway sends a specific type of signal to Faria gauges. Unfortunately, one can't simply change out the Faria Gateway gauge for a universal analog gauge. So, if the Gateway is failing, you have to repair / replace the Gateway and use only Faria Gateway compatible gauges. That can be challenging.

There is a simple, but expensive, solution. Nautique / Correct Craft came to realize that the gateway is doomed. As such, they developed a "kit" to completely bypass the gateway and to replace the gateway-specific gauges with standard analog gauges. Last year, the cost was +/- $1,300 US. Now that price has escalated to over $1,700 US. Shipping to Kiwi-land with any associated fees, may make that amount even worse. If you use the "Promo Code" of PND you will get a 10% discount.

I have a 2003 Ski Nautique and performed this upgrade 1 year ago. I'm very happy with the results.

LINK

JQ

Hey Jonny, really appreciate the comments thanks - I have also seen a post referring to the grounding potentially being an issue, so given the expense of the conversion, II will check the grounding first. Also I'm considering installing the replacement gauges the previous owner provided just because I have them here. Failing that, conversion it is. Do you have any insight or links to how I go about dismantling the dash to remove & replace the current dead gauges?

[toastie22]

An '07 won't have pitot tubes (at least mine doesn't), so while a gateway failure could occur, it is less likely. I'm sure TechBeer will have some solid insight on this.

Thanks for the reply MN Ryan - appreciate you taking the time. Just working through my response to TechBeer now. Thanks!

[toastie22]

toastie22 your boat does not have the pitot tubes so water ingress into the gateway will not be an issue. From your description I'm 99% sure that you simply have a few gauges that have gone bad. To my knowledge new gauges are not available anymore and if they were they would have the same design flaw as the old ones. I did a video explaining how to fix the small gauges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PR-77jDDNo&t=17s The large ones are similar but the capacitor values are different. There are some other differences as well, including replacing the stepper motor. But both are easily repairable (permanently).

Unless you have skills soldering SMT devices you might consider letting me do it. I've done about 100 to date with 100% success. PM me and I can give you details.

ok, thanks so much TechBeer - I have some supplementary notes that I'm hoping you can comment on....
- Do you know where the gateway is located in a 2007 Air Nautique 236? - I'd be keen just to find it and just take a look, so I know what it is and where it is, and whether it looks like it's had any superficial damage from water in some other way.
- if I understand your comments correctly, my choices are:
1. I could put in the spare ones I was given with the boat, which as you say will ultimately fail as they will have the same flaw, but I might get a couple of years out of them.
2. I could repair them or have them repaired (by you or someone in NZ)
3. I have to go down the route of an expensive conversion kit from NautiqueParts, that includes new gauges and bypassing the gateway?

[TechBeer]

toastie22 There is a lot of mis-information about the Faria gateway failing when in reality most of the problems are with individual gauges. The water ingress issue with early gateways is real but likely overstated. Once they went to paddlewheel speed detection the gateway issues mostly went away (2006-ish). But folks with multiple gauges gone bad assume it's the gateway, and mostly it's not. The bypass kit will in fact get things working but it's pretty expensive and you lose the original look of your Nautique. And for way less $$ you can just fix the gauges. To answer your questions in no particular order:
- I believe your gateway is under the driver's side dash. It is a black box that is roughly 12" x 8" x 4" (convert to metric). There are a bunch of DT style connectors that input/output signals. It is mounted by 4 screws that I believe go into wood. The gauges (all 6) are driven by a 4 wire "Faria serial bus". But I would not remove this gateway.
- The gauges are easily removed out the front. In my case 2006 SV211 you remove 4 screws and lift the dashpad. Then you have access to the back of the gauges. Pull the connectors off the gauges you want to remove. There is a collar that can be had twisted from the rear to remove the gauges.

If you have spares that you think work you could try one and see what happens. If it comes to life then your gateway is likely just fine. But again, the reality is that all of these gauges, even new ones. are roughly 20 years old. The dielectric in the capacitors have likely dried out.

Hope that helps!